The following is a map unit description from the "Soil
Survey of Barnstable County, Massachusetts (Fletcher, 1993)"

Fm-Freetown mucky peat, 0 to 1percent slopes,ponded.
This very deep, level, very poorly drained soil is on outwash
plains, on moraines, and in areas of glacial lake deposits. It is
in depressions and in areas adjacent to streams, ponds, and lakes.
Generally, 1 to 2 feet of water covers the surface for most of
the year (fig. 1 0). Aquatic vegetation is on the surface. The
soil makes up about 0.4 percent (1,063 acres) of the survey area.
It is mapped throughout the county. Areas are irregularly shaped
and range from 5 to 100 acres in size.

Typically, the surface layer is dark reddish brown mucky peat
about 2 inches thick. Below this to a depth of 65 inches or more
are alternating layers of dark reddish brown and very dusky red
muck and mucky peat.

Included with this soil in mapping are small areas of Swansea
soils and areas that are not covered by water. Included soils
make up about 10 percent of this unit.

Permeability is moderate or moderately rapid throughout the
Freetown soil. Available water capacity is very high.

Most areas support either emergent wetland vegetation or
shrubby vegetation. This soil is unsuited to cultivated crops,
hay, and pasture because of the ponding. Draining the soil is
difficult because suitable outlets are not readily available and
cannot be maintained.

This soil is unsuited to woodland because of the ponding, the
wetness, a high seedling mortality rate, and a hazard of
windthrow. Optimum growth and survival of seedlings are not
expected. Because of the ponding and low soil strength, the use
of equipment should be limited to periods when the soil is frozen.
Generally, trees are not common on this soil, but some areas
support Atlantic white cedar and red maple.

This soil is unsuited to most nonfarm uses because of the
ponding and low strength in the organic material. Alternative
sites should be selected.

This soil is well suited to wetland wildlife habitat. The
common native plant communities provide adequate food and cover
for nesting areas.